When Yulan arrived at the market that morning, the place was as vibrant as ever. The hustle and bustle of merchants, the buzz of customers, and the scent of spices and herbs that perfumed the air made it a familiar scene for her. In her bag, Yulan carried bottles of pills that she had prepared with great care: fasting pills, for those who had to go long periods without eating; body-strengthening pills, especially sought after by warriors and laborers; and, somewhat secretively, aphrodisiac pills, which drew curious and embarrassed glances but always brought in good coin.
Yulan looked around for the stall of Mr. Wu, the elderly talisman seller and spiritual formation expert who always greeted her with a smile and a warm look. He was a serene old man who always had a word of wisdom and praised Yulan’s skills in alchemy. He was the one who, when she first visited the market, had taught her the value of each type of pill and the importance of understanding her customers’ needs. On many occasions, he had also warned her about the risks and opportunities of the market, becoming almost like a grandfather.
But this time, the place where he always pitched his tent was empty.
She felt a wave of uneasiness rise within her, so she hurried to ask a shopkeeper nearby what had happened. The answer came back filled with sadness: Mr. Wu had passed away. “He died peacefully in his sleep,” they said. “It was just his age, you know? He lived a good life and left behind good memories.”
The news hit her like an unexpected blow. Yulan lowered her head, overcome with deep sadness and confusion at the same time. Wu had been a constant face in her life—one of those people who somehow seemed to always be there. But now, for the first time, she understood the burden she carried by choosing the path of cultivation and the pursuit of immortality. If she truly followed this path to the end, not only would her body grow stronger and her lifespan longer, but she would also be forced to watch all those who did not walk the same path grow old and fade away.
It was a silent, painful lesson, a reality she would have to accept in time. Wu was gone, and she knew there would be many others who would do the same. Yulan realized that every bond she formed with the common people of the mortal world would come with an inevitable farewell. Sighing, she approached the empty space where his tent used to be and murmured a silent prayer of respect for her old friend’s soul.
With this new burden on her heart, Yulan summoned the courage to continue her work in the market. After all, Mr. Wu himself had taught her about resilience and about moving forward even in the face of hardship. But as she negotiated with her clients, she felt that a part of her had changed. This experience had made her reflect on what cultivation meant and the choices and sacrifices that this path required.
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With the pills sold and a new determination in her heart, Yulan returned to the Heavenly Flame Sect, feeling even more connected to the purpose she had found there. Her mission was not only to grow as an individual, but also to strengthen the foundation of the sect, which was the origin and foundation of her opportunities. Arriving at a secluded and hidden corner of the sect grounds where she could act without prying eyes, she focused on the amulet around her neck, a small necklace that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
With a careful touch and a whisper of activation, the necklace glowed a vibrant green, opening a portal to her magical garden—a space only she could access. This garden was an extension of her own spiritual essence, a private haven where plants grew beneath the special energy of her green flames. Each plant grown there was unique, adapted to the aura of Yulan, and flourished in a way that was not possible in the outside world.
As soon as she stepped through the portal, Yulan felt the familiar, welcoming energy of the magical garden. In the center of the space stood her simple but well-organized hut, where she kept precious alchemy treatises, as well as rare books detailing advanced formulas and techniques for refining pills. In a secluded corner stood her alchemy furnace, a powerful relic that amplified the abilities of whoever used it, especially those related to the arts of flame.
Yulan began preparing the ingredients needed for a new batch of advanced pills, ones that she couldn’t sell on the market. These would be offered directly to the sect, not only to accumulate contribution points, but also to bolster the strength and prestige of the Heavenly Flame Sect. Yulan’s green flames, which emerged from her unique spiritual flame, granted her a rare power: the ability to generate flame seeds. These seeds were infused with her own essence, and when used by other cultivators for various purposes, they could be used by her.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the energy of the green flame flow from her soul into the furnace. The refining process was a precise dance of energy and intent. Into each pill she concocted, Yulan channeled a bit of her own essence, making her creations purer and more potent. This time, she decided to refine Qi-strengthening pills and Spiritual Regeneration pills—valuable resources that would strengthen the sect’s warriors and could aid them in training and missions.
After several hours of refining, Yulan surveyed her new creations with satisfaction. Perfect pills, each exuding vibrant energy and glowing with a bright color, were ready to be donated. Satisfied with her batch of pills, Yulan turned to a small coffer in her hut. Within it rested a few of the precious green flame seeds—these seeds formed directly from her own spiritual flame. It was a rare gift, an extension of her power, that Yulan regularly produced and donated to the sect to aid in rituals and strengthen the elders’ techniques.
With the pill bottles and green flame seeds carefully stored away, Yulan took a deep breath, feeling the satisfaction of a task well accomplished. She closed the portal to her magical garden and, stepping back onto the sect’s grounds, made her way to the main temple, ready to make her donations. These resources not only strengthened the sect, but also represented the bond between her and her spiritual home.
In every pill and seed, Yulan conveyed not only her power, but her loyalty and desire to grow alongside the Heavenly Flame Sect, one step at a time, always guided by her green flame, as vivid and bright as her own cultivator's ambition.